March 2009 e-newsletter
In this issue:
Skills for job seekers boosted by $40 million
South Australia has secured almost $40 million over the next four years to boost the skills and qualifications for about 12,000 South Australian job seekers, while building the State’s workforce.
$8.06 million has been allocated for 2009 to train around 2 500 South Australians for high level qualifications in key sectors such as health and community services, agriculture, engineering, mineral exploration and defence.
Advertising will now commence in South Australia, inviting employers, industry bodies, enterprises, employment service providers and Registered Training Organisations to apply for the funds to train job seekers under the program. Proposals will be required to target skills in demand.
The funding will be allocated in South Australia through a contestable grants process.
Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Julia Gillard and State Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education Paul Caica made the announcement on Saturday 28 February.
It follows the first part of the program announced in September last year, when more than $14 million was allocated to South Australia to upgrade the skills and qualifications of existing members of the workforce.
Information is available online about the Productivity Places Program in South Australia or by calling 8207 8767.
$155 million new funding to retain apprentices and trainees
In these difficult economic times it is important that employers are able to maintain their commitment to training and upskilling the workforce.
The South Australian Government, after consultation with industry, has provided advice to the Commonwealth regarding the need to assist employers retain trainees and apprentices during any downturn.
It is pleasing that on 19 February 2009 the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Julia Gillard announced $155 million of new funding to support businesses to retain apprentices and trainees and to help those who have lost their jobs.
$145.6 million has been allocated to encourage employers to take on apprentices and trainees who have been laid off and provide a pathway for them to remain connected to the workforce and maintain their training.
Employers will also be encouraged to retain apprentices and trainees through an additional completion payment; and in tendering for new Australian Government funded infrastructure projects preference will be given to businesses which demonstrate a commitment to retain and employ new trainees and apprentices.
Under this program employers and Group Training Organisations may be eligible to receive up to an additional $2 800 per apprentice or trainee in wage subsidies and completion payments.
This initiative will be backdated to 1 January 2009 and will be made through Australian Apprenticeships Centres. The program will run for two years until 31 December 2010.
In addition, $9.7 million has been allocated to help apprentices and trainees who have lost their jobs continue with their qualification through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) by providing financial assistance to cover the cost of the off-the-job training component where an apprentice or trainee with an incomplete qualification has been made redundant.
RTOs would receive Government funding of up to $2 500 for each apprentice or trainee who completes their off-the-job training.
The initiative will commence on 1 July 2009 and run for two years.
Both programs will be targeted at apprentices or trainees at the Certificate III and IV level in areas of skills demand.
Industry helps plan future workforce needs
Members of the State’s Training and Skills Commission chaired by Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley met with industry groups recently to discuss South Australia’s current and future skills and employment needs.
The 13 industry roundtables held in Adelaide will help shape the development of a five-year plan for South Australia which is designed to guide industry and public funding on skills and workforce development.
The purpose of the roundtables is to build stronger links between the Commission and industry sectors across South Australia, thereby directly involving industry in determining how to best meet the State’s short and long term labour and skills needs and ensuring the five-year plan is driven by industry needs.
Participants at the roundtables included Business SA, SAUnions, defence and mining industry representatives and the State’s nine Industry Skills Boards including manufacturing, primary industries, construction, services and health.
The future of advanced manufacturing in SA
A new report on South Australia’s research and development capabilities in advanced manufacturing suggests that defence, health and ‘clean’ technologies are key areas for future development.
These are the findings of a new report, Mapping Capability in Advanced Manufacturing R&D in SA, sponsored by the Department of Further Education, Science and Technology and the Centre for Innovation. The report identifies the current advanced manufacturing research capabilities of 40 local enterprises and 19 faculties within the State’s three local universities.
Science Minister Paul Caica said more collaboration between universities and industry will open up further opportunities for advanced manufacturing in the State particularly in the areas of clean technologies and alternative energies, mining, defence, health care and improving manufacturing processes.
The preliminary research has found that almost 50 percent of companies surveyed are engaged in research and development with universities and more would engage if pathways to link them with the research sector were accessible.
Bradley Review key recommendations
The Bradley Review into higher education was officially released on Wednesday 17 December 2008 and will be responded to by the Federal Government in March 2009.
Key principles outlined in the Bradley Review included:
- equal value to be given to both VET and higher education
- the whole education system to provide an integrated response to workforce needs
- clearer and stronger linkages between TAFE/VET and universities
- increased funding for higher education.
The review was conducted by an expert panel led by the Chair of South Australia’s Training and Skills Commission, Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley AC, to examine the current state of the Australian higher education system against international best practice.
The panel was asked to explore the future direction of the sector, its capacity to meet the needs of the Australian community and economy, and the options available for ongoing reform.
The final report proposes a comprehensive package of reforms to Australia's tertiary education sector. A total of 46 recommendations were made in relation to higher education, research, and Vocational Education and Training (VET).
For further information on the Bradley Review and to view the report in full visit www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Review
New international university to offer courses in SA from 2009
Adelaide will soon be home to another prestigious international university campus with University College London to offer courses in Adelaide this year.
The Government of South Australia recently signed an agreement with University College London (UCL) which will see a campus established in Adelaide to offer executive education programs in 2009. This will be followed by a two-year Masters degree in Energy and Resources for up to 60 students, beginning in 2010.
The UCL School of Energy and Resources Australia will be a collaboration between the university and the State Government, while Santos will make a $10 million contribution to the school through funds for scholarships, research and the sponsorship of a professorial chair.
This is the first time UCL, one the world’s leading universities, has offered a degree program outside of Britain and the first time British degrees have been offered in Australia.
UCL is the third international university to establish a permanent presence in Adelaide following the arrival of Carnegie Mellon in 2006 and Cranfield in 2007.
The UCL School of Energy and Resources will be located in the historic Torrens Building, alongside Carnegie Mellon Heinz School Australia and Cranfield University’s Business Development Centre in Victoria Square.
Hiring a diverse workforce makes for good business
Many organisations are increasingly realising that a diverse workforce makes good business sense.
Mature age people, people with a disability, young people, Aboriginal people and women are sometimes overlooked as a first choice when hiring. However, there are many positive benefits for organisations who recruit from outside the square.
In times of economic uncertainty it is sound business policy for employers to improve their operations by strengthening business links with the greater community. One simple way this can happen is by recruiting from a broader section of the population.
The Department of Further Education, Employment Science and Technology’s Workforce Information Service provides a raft of information for employers seeking to build the capability of their business, including an employer resource toolkit on attracting, recruiting, selecting staff. For access to this information, visit the Workforce Information Services toolkit.
Thinking about technology
Adelaide’s latest Thinker in Residence, Dr Genevieve Bell has recently returned to South Australia to undertake a further two months of her residency which will focus on the ways South Australians are using new technologies in their everyday lives.
Dr Bell will delve into how people use technology and what they want from it, so as to gain an understanding of the role technology plays in a social and cultural context.
She is currently working with the Office for Youth A-Team in the Riverland to identify the barriers to technology uptake, identify opportunities for the future, and look for new ways to connect and build the community.
Dr Bell’s SAstories campaign aims to gather as many stories from South Australians about their views on technology and how they stay connected. People can share their stories by:
- posting a story on the SAstories website
- sending back a postage paid SAstories postcard available by emailing Adelaide Thinkers in Residence
- sending their own postcard to Genevieve Bell, Adelaide Thinker in Residence, GPO Box 2343, Adelaide SA 5001.
Born in Sydney, Dr Bell (an anthropologist) now lives in Oregon in the United States, where she is the Director of User Experience in Intel Corporation’s Digital Home Group. Dr Bell’s research has provided considerable insight into the importance of culture in the adoption and adaptation of technology.
For further information on Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Dr Genevieve Bell contact Communications Officer Joanna Hughes on (08) 8226 2220.
DFEEST staff dig deep for Red Cross bushfire fund
There has been an amazing response from business and the community to the Victorian bushfire tragedy with the total value of donations of money, goods and services now exceeding $100 million.
In the week immediately following the fires DFEEST staff across South Australia participated in fundraising activities that raised more than $12,000 all of which was donated directly to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Fund.
Training provider forum on Productivity Places Program
Productivity Places Program in Action: Training and employment in the current financial situation.
How can training providers access new training money for job seekers, in response to the global financial crisis? What are some of the outcomes from the existing funding for existing workers and job seekers?
A training provider forum to address these and other issue is being help on:
Tuesday 10 March 2009
4.30pm - 6.15pm
Lyrics Room, Adelaide Festival Centre
King William Road
Adelaide SA 5000.
Speakers include DFEEST Chief Executive Raymond Garrand, DFEEST Deputy Chief Executive Elaine Bensted, and Director Industry Skills Development in DFEEST Lou Hutchinson.
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